No More “Go Niners”: Muni Stops Running Promotional Messages On Their Bus Displays

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Muni’s venerable fleet of 1,100 vehicles will no longer display promotional messages such as “Go Giants Go” or “Equality for All,” according to SFMTA officials.

The transit agency’s decision to terminate the program is the apparent result of increasing complaints from riders — some of whom are developmentally disabled — claiming that the messages distract from reading Muni route information, officials said. “The straw that broke the camel’s back was a complaint from the disabled community,” said SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin.

Interrupting route information with scrolling phrases like “Go Niners” confuses people with developmental difficulties, and “often” prevents them from boarding — especially at stops which serve multiple routes, according to internal SFMTA emails obtained by The Appeal. Officials cited a specific example of a “highly functioning autistic client” who consistently missed buses because of the messages — and who has lodged numerous complaints — that was representative of the larger concern.

Officials attempted to solve that difficulty by shortening the length of time messages appeared, but the sign technology doesn’t allow for such modifications — all messages display for two seconds.

In light of the concerns over disabled riders, SFMTA staff say they were also worried the messages might expose the agency to a lawsuit.

“The longer we wait, the greater the possibility of someone filing an ADA lawsuit or complaint with FTA or the State of California which could be a major problem,” said David Hill, Deputy Director of Transit Management in an internal SFMTA email message obtained by The Appeal.

The SFMTA has also received numerous complaints from riders who aren’t disabled, Reiskin said.

The program has been operating since at least 2010, but in 2013 the SFMTA has added many more non-route related messages than in the past. Transit officials were unsure of the exact date the program began.

Reiskin told The Appeal that the transit agency wasn’t able to come up with a fair and equitable policy that would govern non-route information on the signs, a fact that contributed to the decision to terminate the program.

Over the years, in addition to supporting local sports teams — which Rose called a “goodwill gesture to San Francisco’s community” — Muni vehicles have also displayed social and political messages. Social and political messages which have also generated complaints, Reiskin said.

For example, last year “Equality for All” appeared in honor of Pride 2012’s theme. Matthew Bajko of the Bay Area Reporter worked with District Eight Supervisor Scott Weiner, and the SFMTA to add the Pride slogan to Muni’s fleet, according to Bajko.

“I couldn’t get the spokesperson for Muni to call me back,” Bajko said, adding that after he contacted Weiner, the SFMTA agreed within “minutes” to add the messages.

Following April’s bombings at the Boston Marathon, “We Stand with Boston” appeared on buses at the request of an SFTMA employee, who “made the request through operations that we should post signs in solidarity,” Rose said, “And they were posted.”

“Well funded corporations have access to public space, but there’s no process,” Petrelis told The Appeal in apparent frustration.

“The billionaires received free publicity to boost awareness about their teams, which likely meant more ticket sales and profits for the owners.”

Reiskin doesn’t see it that way, and told The Appeal that he had difficulty believing an argument that the sports-related messages generated any additional ticket sales. The intention was always to demonstrate “civic pride” and allow the transit agency to participate in some of the “feel-good stuff” of the city, Reiskin said.

Petrelis’ request came in “about the same time we started getting feedback” and that there is “no real reason there wasn’t a policy” about the vehicle read-outs, SFMTA spokesperson Paul Rose said.

And now, regardless of their informal use in the past, the bus signs will no longer be available for any non-route displays.

“There wasn’t a formal policy because this was a goodwill gesture for the community,” Rose said.

But, for community members such as Petrelis, the SFMTA’s policy represents a double standard.

“[Terminating the program is] Just one more reminder of how there are two San Francisco’s when it comes public property and a set of unwritten rules for the rich and other more restrictive rules for ordinary citizens,” Petrelis said.

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njudah

This is bullshit. Why is it the few and the loud get to tell the rest of us and our government what to do, but the many who want a good Muni and take pride in our city have to be silenced?

Seriously, Mr. Petrelis, piss off.

cedichou

Anyway, it was always faster to walk than take the Go Niners line to Candlestick.

Katy

Nice to see someone listening to and acting upon an autistic person’s complaints…eventually.

http://www.akit.org/ Akit

Muni needs to adjust the route signs from saying things like “Nineteenth Avenue” and bring it back to saying “19th Avenue.” It’s a lot easier for me to read the digits than it being typed out.

PorkedBun

It was fun while it lasted but it makes sense to ditch it. When you’re on a street with multiple bus lines, you want to know what’s approaching.

sean

I was getting tired of the “stand with Boston”

http://www.everybodyhatesatourist.net/ Jonathan

My favorite was when I saw a bus running a “Go Giants” message the day after the New York Giants had beaten the 49ers in the NFC Championship game.

hillarys_new_shoes

My favorite was getting on the 10 Townsend in North Beach to get to AT&T Park on June 13, 2012 and it pulled up saying “Go Niners.” We laughed pretty hard at that one. And every time we re-tell the story of watching Matt Cain throw his Perfect Game against the Houston Astros – that goofy Muni message is part of the story.

frenchjr25

I understand the complaints from the disabled community. Many people rely on seeing the route information on the bus from a distance. Ending the message program, even though it was a great idea, will eliminate one of the barriers for people with disabilities from riding public transit.

shamelessly

Now if they would just stop interspersing arrival time info with informational messages in bus shelters. Those messages are MTA-related, but I often find myself having to stare at a series of several of them before bus arrival times are displayed.

Nick

Kind of ironic that an “Equality for All!” sign created inequality for the disabled community.

gb52

Another ridiculous complaint by someone who didn’t get HIS way. But yes, the signs need to clearly display the route when approaching and while stopped at a bus stop. (given stops are so close, that gives little time for other messages). But I did enjoy a sporadic message here and there. Petrelis though has got to go.. (didn’t get his fair share and needs rules for EVERYTHING!)

MZ

While it was a civic-spirited idea with the best of intentions, I’m glad to see the displays go. The purpose of the head sign on a bus is to tell riders where the bus is going. This is basic essential information for a transit agency. Time spent displaying community messages is time not spent informing passengers of the bus’s route. There’s plenty of advertising space on and inside buses that can be used for civic promotions without taking away information space.

Zachary Heistand

WAIT! WHAT?! You cant wait 5 seconds for the route/destination do display?!
The politically affiliated messages such as “equality for all” should be ditched, as it conveys the message that the operation is for a cause and against the other,,,but saying “GO [team here]” messages are awesome. Shows that the city/county is supporting sports teams, which ultimately bring more revenue to the community.